When her mother was diagnosed with throat cancer two decades ago, Denise Madison became acquainted with Victory in the Valley as the staff and volunteers surrounded her family with support and love

And then when she herself was diagnosed a few years later with breast cancer, then later endometrial cancer, the people at Victory in the Valley were the first she turned to.

Now, as a two-time cancer survivor, she volunteers at camps for children who have cancer and has started a quilting group that has made more than 1,500 quilts for donation to newly diagnosed cancer patients.

“We named the group Stitches of Hope,” said Madison, 67. “We know we are touching people’s lives when they are first diagnosed with cancer and letting them know there is hope.”

The idea for the quilts started six years ago after Madison said she went to one of the summer cancer camps. She met a little girl who was extremely sick from chemo.

Madison spent much of the day reading to the girl. But what Madison said she really wanted to do was wrap a warm quilt around the child and hold her in her lap to help her through her treatments.

Not long after, Stitches of Hope was founded.

“We pray over the quilts as we are making them,” Madison said. “They are made with love.”